Dear Lifehacker,
I'm moving into a new apartment, and I don't really have a lot of furniture to my name. Should I just head out to Ikea,buy everything I need, and save some cash? Or should I hit the big furniture showroom and deal with making appointments for something that'll actually last? Is there any way I can get something long-term without killing my bank account?

Sincerely,
Amateur Interior Designer

Dear Amateur Interior Designer,
We understand where you're coming from, and I think we've all been there: You've just moved into a new apartment. Maybe it's your first, maybe it's a college dorm, or maybe you just don't have a lot of stuff. Most of us probably have a combination of inherited furniture we got from friends and family, but before you hit the showroom or load up at Ikea, here are a few things to consider to net the best bang for your buck.

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Before Anything Else: Plan Your Space

Before you run out and spend your money, take time to plan out the space so you know what you can fit, what colors and designs you like, and what furniture you really need. It may seem like common sense, but it's critically important to do first. You may think you have room for a couch and a couple easy chairs, but the last thing you want is to start shopping and have no idea how large those items should be, or worst, buy something you have to shoehorn into your space. Photo by Francis Storr.

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One tip that's worked for me in the past is to template my furnitures with pieces of paper if I already know what I want to put into a room. Measure your space so you know what you have to work with. Even better, draw it all out on some graph paper and take that shopping with you so you can compare your measurements against the size of the furniture you want to buy. For the tech-inclined, webapps like Google Sketchup, Design Your Dorm, IKEA Planner, Floorplanner, and the Make Room Planner can help. Once you have your measurements, you should have an idea of what you want to fit into your space, and your budget will dictate how much of your dream apartment you'll be able to buy.

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If you know you're moving in a year—especially if you're not sure where you're moving—there's no reason to blow your budget on expensive pieces sized for the place you just moved into. If you know you'll be there for a few years—maybe between three and five—you'll want some resilient, quality furniture, but obviously not everything. If you're moving into a house you plan to live in for ten years or more, you should be comfortable buying furniture that you expect to last the long haul, and that hopefully you won't have to replace every year or so. Similarly, even if you move frequently but know you'll stay in the same area, make that your multi-year plan and buy some quality pieces you know you'll always use, no matter where you go.

Finally, when we say making a furniture shopping plan, we mean that. Don't just run out and buy all the furniture you'll need at one time. It can be tempting to go to Ikea and load up your car with everything you could possibly want, but choose essentials first and bring them home before anything else. Once the essentials, like a bed, couch, desk, and things you know you must have are in your space, then you can decide whether you need anything more. Remember, just because you have room for it doesn't mean you need it. Leave that space free for things you may want in the future, or—heaven forbid—own less stuff.

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Spend Your Money Where Your Time Goes

The "buy with the amount of time you plan to live in your home in mind" rule is great, but there's one area where it falls down: Places you spend most of your time. This is called The Comfort Principle. Furniture that you use most often and are essential to your life, comfort, or quality of life are the ones that deserve the most room in your budget. Photo by tifonimages (Shutterstock).

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It's easy to go out and spend a lot of money on a shiny new TV as soon as you move into a new apartment, but if you only watch TV once a week or so, your money could be better spent elsewhere. For example, most people spend between six and eight hours in bed every day sleeping. If you spend more on your entertainment center, which you may use for three hours a day at most, than you do on your bed, you should adjust your priorities. If you work from home, your desk, your office chair, and workspace setup deserves a good slice of your budget because you use that equipment most often. If you enjoy cooking, make sure you put some money into making sure your kitchen is set up to foster your love of cooking.

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Ideally, the biggest parts of your furniture budget, especially if you're sticking around your new apartment for a while, should go to your bed and bed frame, your desk chair and workspace (if you work from home at all), your couch, and those other parts of your home that you use and enjoy most frequently. Don't be tempted to spend a ton of cash on a chair you never sit in, or a set of end tables that are gorgeous but are still just end tables.

Buy Throwaway or Functional Items On the Cheap

Now that you know where you should spend your money freely, let's talk about the places you should save your hard-earned cash. Items that are purely functional or not really visible are great places to save some cash. A set of drawers hidden in a closet, or a nightstand that does nothing but hold your phone and an alarm clock for example. Similarly, if your furniture plan says that you'll be moving in a few years and you need something in the interim that's specific to the space you live in now, that's the type of furniture you should buy affordably. Photo by Karl Baron.

Those are the things you can swing over to a discount furniture store for and pick up on sale. Whether it's your favorite designer pressboard assemble-it-yourself store or your local big-box department store, this is where you can safely save some money.

Avoid Showrooms Unless There's Something You Must Have

When it comes to big showrooms, the kind where you eventually have to custom order your couch or dining room set from a salesperson or make an appointment just to visit, we'd suggest avoiding them altogether. There are some exceptions, largely for discount showrooms and wholesalers where you can shop freely and only place an order if you need to or they don't have the specific model you want in-house. However, the furniture showroom experience is usually built from top to bottom to get you to spend as much money as possible on products that aren't worth that money. Think "used car lot," just with dining room sets and custom-order couches. Photo by T.W. van Urk (Shutterstock).

Unless there's something very specific you want and have to have, or your budget allows for it, don't bother with them. You can do your research online to find the perfect piece of furniture first, and then head into a showroom if you must. Walking into one blind however, armed only with your budget and your measurements, will inevitably result in you sitting across from a salesperson who wants to upsell you on "nanotech stain resistant treatments" for the couch that you're already not getting for the sale price.

Instead, if you know you really want a dark wood dining room table that seats six, shop online at those popular stores' websites and see if you can order there. Compare pricing between wholesalers and showroom stores. See if you can order direct from manufacturers. Your money will go farther, and your wallet will thank you.

Shop for Used Bargains, but Exercise Caution

Of course, if you're shopping for quality, old, or hardwood pieces but don't have a lot of money to spend, you can do better than discount furniture stores or expensive showrooms altogether. Consider buying used, from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, or even on the web through Craigslist (just don't get screwed!) or Freecycle. There are definitely bargains to be had, and especially with estate sales and thrift stores you can frequently find beautiful, well cared-for items at decent prices. Photo by The Living Room.

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When it comes to buying used furniture however, make sure that you examine each piece carefully for wear and tear, damage, and any signs of insects or pests. Sadly, bedbugs and other pests can make their homes in the cracks and nooks in even old wooden furniture, and hitch a ride home with you if they're coming from a house or apartment where they used to thrive. Make sure you carefully evaluate the surroundings and the seller before you take anything used home with you. For some people, even a great bargain isn't worth that risk, so you'll have to make that call.

Ultimately, cheap furniture can be worth buying, as long as you know why you're buying it. If it fits, it's functional and not aesthetic, and you understand you're trading durability for cash, then it's a good idea. Finding a used diamond in the rough is a great way to score quality furniture on a budget. The only place we wholeheartedly say used furniture is not worth it is if you're trying to save money on something you use every day. Furniture that's essential to your health or comfort is worth your money.

Armed with a firm budget and a plan for your space, you can't go wrong. Shop around, buy your essentials first, and remember, cheap doesn't mean low-quality. Just keep an eye out for a great deal and you'll be fine. Good luck!